Folding door



June 17, 1930. E. J. G. PHILLIPS 1,754,976.

FOLDING Doon Filed June 23.1.1924 2 sheet-sheet 1 v 35 9A-f ,d4 2J e@ uw ness ff 2 Shoets-Sheet 2 .illlllllllllm FOLDING DOOR E. J. G. PHILLIPS Filed June 25, 1924 r///// W' m June 17', 1930.

. 7 3 .a .l IH g A/ A v14 www4@ Y m Patented June1'7, 193() UNITEDy arn'rss PATENT oFFics ELLIS J'. G. PHILLIPS, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RICHARDS-WILCOX MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS FOLDING- DOOR Application led June VA23,

My invention relates to folding doors of the accordion type, or doors composed of a plurality of leaves, hinged together so that the several leaves may be foldedtogether in an accordion-like manner, and when so folded will occupy a transverse position relative to the door opening, and be bunched either lat one end thereof, or part at one end and part at the other. Sometimes such doors are suspended from hangers connected with alternate leaves and arranged to run on a track eX- tending longitudinally of the doorway immediately above its upper or head j amb, the lower portion of the door being guided by some form of guiding means attached to the lower margins of alternate leaves and running in a slot in the floor, or on a slotted rail i set into the floor, and extending longitudinally of the door-way. Doors of this kind are, however', apt to stick or bind when it is at tempted to move them longitudinally of the door-way, unless uniform pushing force be applied to their upper and lower ends, and as such uniform application of power is not apt to occur in practice, such doors as heretofore constructed have not operated satisfactorily.

My present invention has to do with the mounting ofy such doors, and has for its principal object to provide devices for that' purpose, by the use of which the leaves will slide more easily and without cramping or binding should the pushing power be applied unevenly so that it would tendto move one-*end of the folded leaves faster than the other. An*- other object is to provide an improved mounting for folding doors of the accordion type, by the use of which the leaves may all be made of the same width vand the use of leaves of half width at the ends of the door opening will be avoided, anda further object is to improve door mountings of this character in 'various other respects that will be hereinafter pointed out. I accomplish these objects as illustrated in thedrawings and as hereinafter` What I believe described. forth in the claims. o

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a door opening showing my improvements in a general way,

to be new is set 1924.v Serial No. 721,882.

applied to a door composed of three pairs of leaves, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 vis a horizontal section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, except that oneof the pairs of leaves is shown folded;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, being a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, some parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3; and f Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section similar to the lower part of Fig. 3, but taken at right angles to the section there shown. v

Referring to the drawings, 6, 7 indicate the end jambs of a door-way, 8 the floor, and 9 the upper jamb. Mounted in the door-way 'is a folding door which, in the illustrated construction, comprises three pairs of leaves, the leaves of each pair being indicated by the reference numerals 10, 1l, and being connected' together along their abutting margins by hinges 12 so that they may be swung relatively to each other either to a position of alinement orto a position of parallelism. When the leaves of the several pairs are in alinement they are designed to completelyclose the door- 'v i not connected with the end jambs of the doorway, so that all the folded leaves may be assembled at either end of the door opening when they are moved as hereinafter described, or some of them may be moved to one end thereof and the rest to the other end, or some f may be left unfolded while others are folded, as shown, for example, in Fig. 2.

pairs of leaves are mounted for, movement Coming now to the manner 1n which the y relatively to the door opening, by referenceA particularly to Figs. l and 3 it will beseen that one leaf of each pair, as for examplev the leaf l0, is provided with a vertically disposed rod or shaft 13 which extends longi-l 'i tudinally of the leaf midway between its side margins, the door havinga suitable bore 14 to receive saidrod. In the illustratedconstruction said rod is made in three parts, so'that it is extensible to adapt it to fit doors of different heights, and also to accommodate van riations in the distance between the door Yhanger track and the floor track hereinafter referred to, this being accomplished iii the illustrated construction by providing a sleeve 15, which fits telescopically on thelower end ofthe upper member 13 of said rod and is keyed'tliereto by a spline 18 so that said parts rotate together. The sleeve 15 isV rotatably' mounted in the bore lll, and at its lower end it is connected with a rod l? similar to the rod 13 and forming a downward extension thereof. The rod 17 is non-rotatably connected with the sleeve 15 preferably by a pin 18. It will be'noted that the rod 13 extends up above the upper margin of the leaf in which it is fitted, and the rod 17 entends down below the lower margin of such leaf, the object of which will be hereinafter set forth. Bj the construction described l provide. an eX- tensible pivot rod or shaft for theleaf, located centrally with respect to the side margins thereof, so that the leaf is balanced and swings easily about such pivot as an axis.

Preferably only one leafvof each pair is equipped with the pivoting devices described.

The leaf is suspended. on the upper portion ofthe rod 13 by providing the upper margin of the leaf with a plate 19, preferably screwed theretoaiid having a central opening through whichthe rod 13 passes, and which fits loosely upon the upper end of a tubular member 2O having a ball race adapted to receive antifriction balls 21. Resting upon said balls is a cup 22 which lies directly under the. plate 19 and receives the downward thrust thereof. The member 20 rests upon a collar 23, preferably formed integral with the upper portion of the rod13.` The collar 23` and the anti-friction bearing members described are all contained in a recess 2li provided in the upper part of the door leaf. Bytbis construction the weight of the leaf is supported by the rod 13V through said anti-friction devices, so that it turns easily about said rod as an anis.

The rod 13 is itself suspended from a door hanger of any approved typemounted to run onan overhead track exteiidino alonO the Ydoor-way and mounted in the upper jamb in the usual way. Preferably I employ for this purpose a two-wheeled hanger 25 running in inverted el-shapedsheet metal track 2,6 kof well known design. As shown in Fig.

said Vhanger is provided with a depending' shank er rod 27, the lower Vend portion of which is sciew-threadedto engage a threaded sleeve 28 which forms the lower part of an anti-frictionbearing, preferably a ball bearing, kthe upper member ofv which .is composed of a cup 29 having a depending marginal 'flange 30 which is internally screw-threaded,

" Yas showniinFiU. 3, Attached to said cu 3 bv o Y p Y l ..2

such screw threads is a pinion 31 disposed horizontally and having at its upper margin an externally screw-threaded annular flange ,32 which engages the threaded flange o0, said parts being locked together by a set screw. 92a

t) rotatably connected to, and coaXially with, the pinion 31 in any suitable way, preferably by squaring'the upper end of said rod and fitting it in a correspondingly shaped hole"-A iii said pinion, the upper .end ofsaid rod being then upset to prevent its withdrawal. rlhe teeth ofthe pinion 3l mesh with the teeth of a rack 33 which entends longitudinally of the door-way and is firmly secured in position at one side of the path of said pinion as it is moved along by the travel of the door hanger along its track. All these parts are mounted in a suitable recess 3e in the upper iamb, such as are usually provided tor the reception of door hanger tracks, the rod 13 e X-- rilhe upper end of the rod 13 is non-k slot l1 that extends longitudinally of the door opening ver-V ytically under the slot 35 in the upper door j amb, said tracks being 'preferably composed y of the upper horizontally disposed members of a metallic boit-like member which is sunk inthe floor and entends longitudinally r" L. .L 1 1 C or the door -way li ein end to eno. theieoi. As shown in Fig. 3, said box-like member is rectangular iii cross-section, andto one of the side walls thereof is secured a rack 13 similar toA the rack 33 and meshing with a pinion 14 carried by and non-rotatably secured to the lower end ofthe entension rod 17, and connected through it and the sleeve 15 with the iod 13. The pinions same diameter, and consequently they cooperate with theirrespective racksk 33 and 43 to cause the upper and lower ends of the pivot rod, comprising the members 13,7 to move at the be .tippedor'rocked in the plaiie'of the door- 44- are'of the o and l?, same speed., so tliatit cannot' ger of binding `or crainpingon that ccouiit.

.The upper pinion 31 is held properly in eii gageinent with the rack lvthc o oor hang-- er, and the lower pinion lll i held in engages ment with its rack i3 by a io ler mountedV l on the rod 1'? andbearing ag inst the vertical wall of the member 42 opposite that at which therack 43 is connected. Y

VGU

As shown in Fig. 3, the teeth of the pinion 31 are somewhat Wider than those of the rack 33 to permit vertical adjustment of said pinion, which may be accomplished by reason of the screw-threaded connection thereof with the door hanger 25. By this means the parts may be adjusted so that the weight of the door is sustained by the hanger 25, which functions as a guide for the upper end of the rodf13 to hold the pinion 31 "properly in meshv with the rack 33.

For the kpurpose of holding the bracket 37 against rotation, so as to hold the rollers 38 in proper relation to the tracks 39, 40, the

bracket 37 is provided with a downwardly extending finger 46 which projects into the slot 41, as shown in Fig. 5, and is held by the margins of said slot against lateral swinging.

As has been explained, I prefei to provider only one of the leaves of each pair with the rods 13, 17 and sleeve 15, the other leaf vbeing merely suspended from an ordinary door hanger, while its lower margin is provided connected thereto, compels the tops and bottoms of both leaves to yinove at the saine rate of speed, and therefore there is no need of duplicating such parts on both leaves, although that could be done if desired.

From the foregoing description -it will he understood that a door may be composed of two or. more pairs of leaves,fand that the leaves of the several pairs may either be turned to a position where they aline with each other and with the other pairs of leaves, or any pair of leaves may be folded independently of the other pairs. lhen completely folded each pair of leaves assume the position shown at the right in Fig. 2, so that the two leaves are parallel and are at right angles to the verticalplane of the door opening. When in such position vthey are held against joint oscillation by the fact that the vertical pivots atthe upper ends of said leaves engage the side margins of the slot 35 at separated points, and in like manner the lingers 46 at the lower ends of said leaves are spaced apart from each other in the slot 41, so that neither leaf can swing about the vertical axis of the other, nor can they both swing about a common vertical axis. The

use of the anti-friction bearings between the upper end of the'rod 13 and the door hanger is advantageous, because it permits said rod to rotate freely under the action of the pinions 31 and 44, and the anti-friction connection between the door leaf and said rod enables the leaf to turn easily when being folded or turned to its operative position. As the sleeve 15 is connected with the upper section of' the, yrod 13 bythe spline 16, it

rotates therewith, but may slide longitudinally thereof, so that the'rollers 38 automatically adjust themselves to any variations in the distance between the door hanger track and the floortracls 39, 40 due to sagging or other causes. I j

-What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is#

1. A folding door comprising a leaf, a door hanger .mounted over the doorway to travel longitudinally thereof, an extensible rod on which said leaf is pivotedto turn about a vertical axis, said rodbeing connected to ytravel with said door hanger vand yto rotate relatively thereto about its own axis, means ioi holding said iod against tipping in the plane of the doorway when said leaf is moved longitudinally of the doorway, and a floor engaging support for the lower portion of said rod.

A folding door comprising a leaf, a door hanger mounted over the doorway to travel longitudinally thereof, a rod on which said' leaf is pivoted tov turn about a verticaly axis, means pivotally connecting the upper' end portion of said rod with said door hanger to cause said rod to travel with said door hanger and to permit rotation vofvsaid rod about its own axis, said means being adjustable toadjust said rod vertically, means for holding said rod against tipping in the plane of the doorway when said leaf is moved longitudinally of the doorwayk and a floor engaging support forA the lower end of said rod.

y 3. A folding door comprising a leaf, adoor hanger mounted over the doorway to travel longitudinally thereof, an rextensible rod on which said leaf ispivoted to turn about a vertical axis, said rod being connected to travel with said door vhanger and to rotate relatively thereto about its own axis, means for holding said rod against tipping-in the plane of the i doorway when said leaf is moved longitudinally of the doorway, and an antrfriction' support for the lower end portionvof said rod.

4. A folding door comprising a leaff,-a door f hanger mounted over the doorway to travel l longitudinally thereof, an extensible rod on which said leaf ispivoted toturn about a ver! tical axis, means pivotally connecting the upper end portion ofsaid rod with said dooihanger to cause said rod to travelV with said door hanger and to permit rotationvof said vrod about its own axis, said means being vadjustable to adjust said rod vertically, means forholding said rod4 against tipping in the i plane of the doorway when said leaf is moved longitudinally of the doorway,'andan antivfriction supportfor the lower end portion of said rod.

5. A folding door comprising a leaf, a door hanger mounted over the doorway to travel j' longitudinally thereof, anextensible rod onk ywhich said leaf is pivot-ed to turn about. a vertical axis, an anti-friction bearing connection isc" between said rod andsaid door hanger arranged to permit said rod to rotate about its own axis, said connection being adjustable e lower'end portion of said member, a rack extending longitudinally of the doorway and engaging said pinion, an extensible rod depending from said pinion and rotating therewith, a pinion at the lower end of said rod and rotating therewith, a rack extending longitudinally of the doorway and engaging the latter pinion, means pivotally supporting said leaf on said rod to permit said leaf to turn about a vertical axis, and an anti-friction supportV for the lower end of said rod. Y

7. A folding door comprising a leaf, a door ,hanger mounted over .the doorway to travel longitudinally thereof, a. rod on which said leaf is pivoted to turnl about a vertical axis, said rodbeing connected to travel with said door hanger and to rotate relatively ythereto iabout its own axis, means vfor iolding said Vrod against Vtipping in the plane of the doorway wlien said leaf is moved longitudinally of the doorway, a bracket loosely mounted on the lower portion of said rod,aiitifiiction Vrollers carried by said bracket to run on the preventing said bracket y. ally connected with said second'leaf to perfloor, and means for from rotating.

8. A folding door comprising a vertically-A Ydisposed rod, a, door hanger connected with the upper end portion thereof,- a leaf pivoted centrally between its side margins upon said rod to turn about Vsaid rod as an axis, into angular relation with the door-way, means *operating to hold said rod againsttipping in the plane of the doorway when said leaf is V moved longitudinally of the doorway, and a floor engaging support for the lower portion of said rod. e Y

9. A. folding' door-comprising a vertically disposed extensiblerod, a door hanger connected with Vthe upper end portion thereof, a leaf pivoted centrally between its side inai1` gins upon said rod to turn about said rod asan axis,intorangular relation with the doorway, means associated with the end por-j tions of said rod operating to hold the against tipping in the plane of the doorway when said VVleaf is moved longitudinally of the doorway, anda floor engaging support for the lower portion of said rod.

10. A folding door comprisinga verti-A cally-disposed extensible rod, a door-hanger connected lwith the upper end portion there; of, a leaf pivoted centrally between its side vI'nargins upon said rod to turn about said rod .travel longitudinally thereof,

of the doorway,and a floor engaging sup-` port for the lower portion of said rod.

ll. A folding door comprising a leaf, a door hanger mounted over the doorway to travel longitudinally thereof, an extensible rod on which said leafis pivoted to turn about a vertical axis, said rod being connected to travel with said door hanger and to rotate relatively thereto about its own axis, means for holding said rod against tipping in the plane of the doorway when said' leaf is moved longitudinally of the doorway, a floor engaging support for Vthe lower portion of said rod, a second leaf hinged to said first-mentioned leaf, and an overhead door hanger pivotally connected with said second leaf to Y permit the latter to turn about a vertical axis l2. A folding door comprising a leaf, a door hanger mounted over the doorwayto travel longitudinallythereof, an extensible rod on whichY said leaf is pivoted to turn about a vertical axis, said rod being connected to travel with 'said door hanger and to rotate relatively thereto about its 'own axis, means for holding said rod against tipping in theV init the latter to turn about a vertical axis, and an anti-friction support for thelower end portion of said secondleaf. Y V

8. A folding door comprisinga leaf, a door hanger mounted over the door-way to an extensible rod on the upper'portion of which said leaf is suspended7 said rod being connected `to travel withy said door hanger, and an antifriction support bearingron the floor below the leaf, said support being connected with the lower ion of said rod.

lll. 'A iolding door comprising a leaf, 'a

door hang-er mountedV over the door-way to Vtravel longitudinally thereof, ay rod on which said leaf is pivoted to turn about a vertical axis, said rod being connected Vto travel with 'said door hanger and` to rotate relativelyV -thereto about its own axis, and

an anti-friction support bearing on thefloor below "the leaf, sail support being connected with said rod and adjustable longitudinally thereof.

i5. i foldingk doorv comprising a leaf,`a

door hanger mounted over the door-way to tr vel longitudinally thereof,'a rod on which said leaf is pivoted to turn aboutv a vertical axis, Ysaid rod being' connected tov travel with said door hanger and to rotate; relatively thereto about its own axis, said rod having upper and lower end portions non-rotatably connected together, and automatically a justable longitudinally relatively to each othv er, means supporting the weight of said leaf on the upper end portion of said rodand means for holding the leaf against tipping in the plane of the doorway when it is moved longitudinally thereof.

16.- A folding doory comprising a leaf, a door hanger mounted over-the doorway to travel longitudinally thereof, a rod on which said leaf is pivoted to turn about a vertical axis, said rod being connected to travel with said door hanger and to rotate relatively thereto about its own axis, a pinion carried at the upper end of said rod and rotating therewith, a stationary rack extending longitudinally of the doorway and engaging said pinion, a pinion mounted on the lower end portion of said rod and rotating therewith, a stationary rack extending longitudinally of the doorway and engaging the latter pinion, and adjusting means operative to raise or lower said leaf independently of vertical movement of said lower pinion. l l

, 17. A folding door comprising a leaf, a door hanger mounted over the doorway to travel longitudinally thereof, a rod on which said leaf is pivoted to turn about a vertical axis, said rod being connected to travel with said door hanger and to rotate relatively thereto about its own axis, a pinionv carried at the upper end of said rod and rotating therewith, a stationary rack extending longitudinally of the doorway and engaging the latter l pinion, an anti-friction roller support for the lower end portion of said rod, and adjusting means operative to raise or lower said leaf.-

independently of vertical movement of said anti-friction roller support.

18. A folding door comprising a leaf, a door hanger mounted over the doorway to travel longitudinally thereof, a rod on which said leaf is pivoted to turn about a vertical axis, said rod being connected to travel with said door hanger and to rotate relatively thereto about its own axis, a pinion carried on the upper end portion of said rod and rotating therewith, a stationary rack extending longitudinally of the doorway and engaging said pinion, a pinion mounted on the lower end portion of said rod and rotating therewith, a stationary rack extending longitudinally of the doorway and engaging the latter pinion, and adjusting means interposed between the upper end portion of said rod and said door hanger for raising or lowering said y leaf.

ELLIS J. G. PHILLIPS.A 

